Favorite solo piano players...cds

Beam yes, you are right, he gives a very romantic rendering. I suggest you try Friedrich Gulda on Beethoven or Sljatoslav Richter, if you can find the LP's. Its also interesting and I find rewarding, speaking of Kempf, to compare some of his renderings of the sonatas with his contemporaries, which would be Claudio Aarau and Backhaus and last not least Clara Haskil, who however was rather a Mozart,not so much a Beethoven pianist. Also, if you find old monos with Solomon, it will probably prove to be a revelation. Cheers,

Shostacovich: Preludes and Fugues, 2CD set on Melodiya, played by A.Nikolajeva.
You can have the same by Keith Jarret on WEA I think, much less impassioned and less thoughtful rendering, more "romantic".